Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-06-02

''HONOR to whom honor is due"
The street railway company have
worked with vigor that entities them
to great credit.
THE Topeka Democrat speaks of the
occupation tax as something OCiouS to
the people of that city. Such we be-
lieve is the way an occupation tax is
regarded werever the people have tried
it. 1t is an unjust system and is op-
posed to the genius of free institutions.
A STIR has been created in railroad
circles by the Frisco road granting half
fare rates to the annual convention of
the Dunkards, at Ottawa, Kan. 1t is
hard. to surmise what will be the out
come Of this action on the part OF the
Frisco, but it is believed that it will be
the starting of another war on rates.
THE Walnut City and the Lacrosse
papers are filed with statements re-
specting the county seat. The matter
is growing warmer each day and there
is prospect of serious trouble ahead.
AT this distance it is impossible to
judge who is in the right and who in
the wrong But for the good of the
whole county and both cities, we hope
to hear of an amicable settlement.
THE street croaker is doing more
harm to Barton county than all the
cbinch bugs, or dry or wet weather
combined. The GRAPHIC will head a
subscription list to raise a purse in
order that the few specimens of this
''varmint" may be hauled all over the
state and shown the onward march of
progress that is never ceasing, but is
sweeping on and on in a mighty tidal
wave.
STRIKES and rumors of strikes are
disturbing the old world. This time
Belgium is the unfortunate country in
which the working classes have de-
cided that their burdens are greater
than they can bear. We have never
had much sympathy with riotOus strikes
on this side of the waters, but leave
them where the laborer receives only
pittance for his services, we must ad-
nit that the circumstances are some
what changed.
ONE Of these days the Missouri Pa
cific will decide to go south from Great
Bend. 1t is only question OF time
when that road must move out in that
direction in order to protect its inter
ests in the valley. When this occurs
Great Bend may rejoice and be ex-
ceedingly glad, for it will signify
great deal to us. 1t will be the crown-
ing act which is to make this the i'm
perial city of Central Kansas.
WE are still anxious to see the nat
ural gas project pushed forward. In
case we strike gas, there could be no
greater boom for Great Bend than the
one of cheap fuel which the finding of
natural gas would give us. For heating
purposes, II, 900 feet of gas are equal to
one ton of the best bituminOus coal.
a first rate well may yield 100000
feet of gas per day, which would be
equal to 93S tons Of coal. One well is
supposed to draw from a territory Of
but eight acres.
SOME objection is being raised to the
opening of a drive through the park
by men doing business on the north
and south sides of the square, they
claiming that such driveway would
serve to draw the trade from their
locations. We cannot see that such
would be the result. The driveway
will be more for the benefit of the citi-
Zens of the city, and as a means of or
namentation, more than for the con-
venience of the country trade.
THE public prints announce that the
dreaded Asiatic cholera has crossed
the water and is travelling northward.
OF course Kansas feels secure but the
fact is every precaution ought to be
taken to guard against the plague. 1t
is possible that it may travel this way,
and our only security lies in rigid
adherence to our sanitary regulations.
There are scents and smells in some of
our alleys to-day which are calculated
to make one believe that we have an
Augean stable in our midst.
We observe that most of the articles
touching Kansas, which appeared in
the Tribune two weeks ago, are being
largely copied by the papers through
out the state. This is the best evi-
denc that that issue of the Tribune is
being well received, and will be of
great benefit to the county. Every
business man in town should call and
get few copies to send to eastern
friends Tribune.